NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Suspended Auburn guard Varez Ward is under investigation for point-shaving, Yahoo! Sports reported Thursday, only hours before the Tigers were set to play their first round SEC tournament game against Ole Miss.

Ward has been suspended for what was described as an undisclosed violation of team rules since Feb. 25. Sophomore guard Chris Denson was suspended at the same time but reinstated after only one game.

Auburn spokesman Kirk Sampson and Athletic Director Jay Jacobs did not immediately respond to a request to comment from the AL.com Auburn Bureau. Ward has not responded to e-mails and Facebook messages in the last week.

Yahoo! Sports cited three sources with knowledge of the case that said Ward and Denson have been investigated by the FBI since late February. Denson was subsequently cleared and allowed to return to action, the report said.

The sources told Yahoo! that other Auburn players were questioned about whether Ward attempted to get them to join a point-shaving scheme.

The two games under the most scrutiny, according to Yahoo!, are a 68-50 loss to Alabama on Feb. 7 and a 56-53 loss to Arkansas on Jan. 25.

The report said the coaching staff became aware of the allegations when a player raised concerns with an assistant coach in late February. Auburn then contacted the FBI and the NCAA.

Ward is a Montgomery native who transferred from Texas to Auburn last year. He had averaged 8.9 points and 3.8 assists per game prior to his suspension.

Yahoo! said investigators had cleared Denson of wrongdoing, but he posted an apology on his Twitter account after being reinstated and said to fans, "I guarantee it won't happen again."

Auburn coach Tony Barbee spoke of "bad decisions" when Denson returned from his suspension.

"He deserved an opportunity," Barbee said. "Kids have to learn a lesson. It's bigger than sports. It's about life. Sports is a great vehicle to teach life lessons. He had to suffer the consequences for some bad decisions. He made his way back."

Ward has not posted to his Twitter account since his suspension was announced.

Check AL.com throughout the day for the latest on this breaking story.